A step forward: the cooperative modernization in Montenegro

The conference ‘The Case for Gateway Cooperatives in Montenegro and the Balkans’ held in Podgorica on 3rd July, in which CECOP participated, took stock of the achieved results of a one-year European project, in particular by developing a new modern cooperative law. Cooperative representatives from 8 Balkan countries as well as Turkey discussed the key challenges and opportunities of cooperatives in the Balkan region.

Nicola Bertolini, representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, called for the implementation of the new cooperative legal framework in the country, as developed by the project partners. Bertolini stressed that “the provision of an adequate legal framework will allow for the creation of new cooperative enterprises in the rural development sector as well as the transformation of the old cooperatives currently operating under the law for non-governmental organizations”.

About the project

The EU co-funded project “Introduction of social economy and rehabilitation of the cooperative system supporting Rural Development in Montenegro” was launched in September 2011 and has been implemented by Cooperatives Europe and the Italian organization COSV with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Union of Cooperatives of Montenegro. The project encompasses the will and needs expressed by different Montenegrin institutions and bodies to support the legislative process for the harmonization of the cooperative laws already existing. CECOP took also part in the project with the aim to provide its expertise for an adequate legal framework for social cooperatives but also to suggest initiatives in favor of cooperative development in tourism and services sectors as well as craft cooperatives.
An agricultural law should be adopted soon by the Montenegrin authorities. A political will was expressed to proceed rapidly with the adoption of a general law on cooperatives, followed by a law for social cooperatives.